🌕 Sharad Purnima (Kojagari) Vrat Katha
The story
A merchant had two daughters. Both kept the Purnima vrat, but the elder with full vidhi and the younger half-heartedly, after eating. After marriage the younger daughter's children died soon after birth. The pandits told her this was the fruit of the incomplete vrat.
The younger sister then kept the Purnima vrat properly, but that time too her son became lifeless after birth. She laid the child on a wooden seat, covered him with a cloth, called her elder sister and asked her to sit on that seat. The moment the elder sister sat, the touch of her meritorious vrat made the child cry.
The elder sister said, 'You wanted to put the blame of a death on me?' The younger replied, 'No, sister — he was already dead; he has come alive by the merit of your vrat.' From then on the town kept the Sharad Purnima vrat with full vidhi — the story teaches that a vrat must be kept wholeheartedly and completely.
The other story is of Kojagari — on this night Maa Lakshmi descends to earth asking 'ko jagarti?' — whoever stays awake remembering her, in their home she stays. Hence the Kojagari Lakshmi Puja of Bengal and the Kojagara custom (at the home of a newly married groom) in Mithila.
Why this katha — the significance
Ayurveda regards the sharad season as pitta-dominant and this night's moonlight as cooling and medicinal — leaving milk-rice kheer in the moonlight is said to enhance its qualities. Hence the folk custom of giving this kheer to asthma patients.
It is a vrat for Lakshmi's grace — women fast on the Purnima, offer arghya to the moon at moonrise, worship Lakshmi at night and keep vigil; next morning they share the kheer as prasad and break the fast.
In Braj this is the night of Shri Krishna's Maharaas — on this very Purnima Krishna danced the raas with the gopis; hence also Raas Purnima.
How the katha is heard
- Hear or read the katha after the puja, before the aarti — the whole family sits together.
- The one keeping the vrat should listen with a calm mind; keep a lamp lit and a little akshat-flowers in hand.
- At the end, offer the flowers at the deity's feet and bow; share the prasad with everyone.
📿 Sharad Purnima (Kojagari) puja vidhi (step by step) →
Frequently asked questions
When is Sharad Purnima in {Y}?
The date at the top is this year's Ashwin Purnima — from panchang calculations; the Delhi moonrise time and the span of the Purnima tithi are shown too. If the Purnima tithi runs into the next day, keep the moonlight kheer on the night when the Purnima tithi is present at moonrise.
How long should the kheer stay in the moonlight?
From moonrise until at least midnight; traditionally the whole night, with prasad in the morning. Keep it covered with mesh.
Does the kheer really become medicine?
This is folk and Ayurvedic belief — the cool moonlight of sharad with milk and rice is considered pitta-pacifying. Take it as faith and tradition; treat any illness only with a doctor.
What is the difference between Sharad Purnima and Kojagari?
Both are the same tithi — Ashwin Purnima. North India stresses the kheer and the moon, while Bengal-Odisha-Mithila-Maharashtra call it 'Kojagari' and stress Lakshmi puja and the vigil.
How to break the Sharad Purnima fast?
Next morning offer the moonlit kheer to Lakshmi and the moon and break the fast with that prasad; if you kept vigil, the prasad may be taken after midnight too.
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